Playing The Game: How Triple H Became the Heir Apparent to the WWE Empire

By Michael Essany

"Playing The Game: How Triple H Became the Heir Apparent to the WWE Empire" is an explosive and compelling new account of Triple H's life, career, and ascension to power within World Wrestling Entertainment.

Bestselling author Michael Essany explores how Triple H worked his way into WWE chief Vince McMahon's inner circle.

This gripping, first of its kind look inside the WWE also addresses some of the biggest criticisms and controversies of Triple H's career, including his supposed sham of a marriage to Stephanie McMahon and Shawn Michaels' accusation that 'The Game' was behind the infamous Montreal screw job.

This completely unauthorized and unsanctioned work aims to separate rumor from reality and articulate why 'The Game' may ultimately be the best thing for WWE's future real-life corporate governance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sports Entertainment Publishing
• Release date: Mar 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301533107

Michael Essany

Michael Essany was the host of The Michael Essany Show from E! Entertainment Television. As a recent groom himself, Essany saw the need for an intelligent guide that would help the couple plan their wedding together.

Book preview

Playing ‘The Game’: How Triple H Became the Heir Apparent to the WWE Empire

By Michael Essany

Disclaimer

Published by Michael Essany at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Michael Essany

All Rights Reserved worldwide. May not be copied or distributed without prior written permission from the author.

This eBook is not an official WWE publication nor is it associated, affiliated, or otherwise endorsed by WWE. To visit WWE.com, click here.

All information contained in this eBook has been obtained by exclusive interviews, online research, and information freely available in the public domain.

This eBook provides information that you read and use at your own risk.

Cover images are available (with attribution) royalty free and for commercial use by Randall Chancellor and by Reckless Dream Photography.

Chapter 1: Let ‘The Game’ Begin

Those who have worked with and for the multi-time WWE Champion say Paul Levesque – or Triple H as he’s known to the WWE Universe – is the smartest and most cunning mind in the history of professional wrestling.

Always one step ahead of his friends and two steps ahead of his enemies, Paul Levesque has long aspired to be more than just one of the greatest in-ring performers of his generation. The Game, as he’s universally recognized, wanted to become a larger than life titan of the industry he dominated as a performer for two decades.

While never publicly claiming such, it was clear that Levesque wanted to be the next Vince McMahon. But as a businessman widely considered to be keener and more shrewd than Hulk Hogan, Eric Bishoff, and Ted Turner, Levesque would not dare under any circumstances to compete against McMahon’s revered WWE – nor would he jump ship during the company’s mid-1990’s slump against Turner’s WCW.

Still, Levesque, some assert, knew he wanted to one day take over the WWE as soon as signed his first development contract with the lone superpower of professional wrestling. All it would take to make it happen was an artful strategy – one that would be concealed from public view thanks to WWE executives and fans concentrating their attention on Levesque’s undeniable star power and unparalleled professional wrestling prowess.

Early Ambitions

Paul Levesque knew he wanted to be a professional wrestler at a very early age.

Born in Nashua, New Hampshire on July 27, 1969, Levesque admired legendary grappler Ric Flair in his youth, wanting to grow up to follow in the Nature Boy’s footsteps. It was a dream that led Levesque into the world of bodybuilding at the tender age of fourteen.

I was always tall and thin for my age, but I played a lot of basketball and baseball. I never played football. From whenever I can remember, I was a huge wrestling fan. The power and physiques of these guys always impressed me, Levesque recalled in the July 2002 issue of Flex.

By developing his passion for athletics and bodybuilding, it soon became apparent to Levesque and his peers that the young man possessed extraordinary gifts that would bode well for a future in sports.

"At about 14, I was aware of bodybuilding. I knew all about Arnold Schwarzenegger, but didn't know much about what working out entailed. Then a gym, Muscles in Motion, opened in town and a friend of mine, who was older than me, took me along to check it out. We went in and there were these monsters and I thought God, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen," he says.

"The first time I picked up weights, it felt so natural. I just fell in love with bodybuilding from the start. I loved challenging myself to a hard workout. After the workout, I was exhausted and couldn't move, and after a few weeks, I noticed